Handicaps are a concept in sports betting designed to eliminate the inherent advantage or disadvantage a team may have. Sportsbooks use handicaps like the Asian Handicap to level the playing field between two teams by giving one team an advantage or disadvantage in terms of the final score.
This means that the underdog team is given a virtual lead, which is added to their final score at the end of the game.
There are different types of handicaps, such as European Handicap, which is the most popular type of handicap market in Europe and the United Kingdom.
However, in recent years, Asian Handicap has gained a lot of popularity in football betting.
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Asian Handicap Explained
Asian Handicap is a type of bet that reputedly originated in Indonesia and is primarily used in football. This handicap offers a more nuanced alternative to the straight-forward win, lose or draw (1X2) bet as it eliminates the possibility of a draw by giving both teams a handicap on which odds are provided and bets can be made.
The favourite team, which has a handicap disadvantage, is given a minus symbol (-), while the underdog team, which has a handicap advantage, is assigned a plus symbol (+).
Asian handicaps are expressed in multiples of 0.5 goals (‘half goals’), 0.25 goals (quarter goals) or 0.75 goals (three-quarter goals), which makes them unique from other types of handicaps.
Asian Handicap is advantageous in football betting since it removes the likelihood of a draw, which is quite common in football games. As a result, only two potential outcomes remain, making it simpler for bettors to make a choice.
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Asian Handicap Examples
Let’s break down the Asian handicap markets through football betting examples:
Handicap 0.0
Market example: Enyimba odds are @1.90 – Kano Pillars odds are @1.95.
You are betting ₦500 on Enyimba on the 0.0 Asian handicap market.
- If Enyimba win, you win the bet.
- If a draw occurs, your stake is refunded (push).
- You lose your bet if Kano Pillars lose.
Handicap 0.25
This example means the game starts with a score of 0 – 0.25 (1/4 goal handicap). The underdog team in this example has a quarter-goal lead before kick-off.
In this scenario, you either win, win the half, lose, or lose the half stake of your bets.
Market example: Manchester United @2.00 – Arsenal @1.90
You are betting ₦500 on Manchester United to win with a -0.25 Asian handicap market.
- If Manchester United win, you win the bet.
- If the result is a draw, you lose half of the stake (₦250), and the other half (₦250) is refunded.
- The bet loses if Arsenal win.
You are betting ₦500 on Arsenal to win the +0.25 handicap.
- If Arsenal win, you win the bet.
- If a draw occurs, you get the half stake back and win the other half (₦500) at 1.90 odds. You are still in profit.
- If Arsenal lose, you lose the bet.
Handicap 0.5
In this case, the game starts with a score of 0:0.5 (half-goal handicaps). The underdog team has the advantage of a half-goal before kick-off.
Market example: Real Madrid @1.85 vs Barcelona @2.00
You are betting ₦500 on Real Madrid to win on a -0.5 Asian handicap, which means they start the match on a half-goal deficit. The minus symbol (-) here denotes the team deemed the favourite by the bookies.
- If Real Madrid win, you win the bet.
- If Barcelona win or the game ends in a draw, you lose the bet.
You are betting ₦500 on Barcelona to win with a +0.5 Asian Handicap.
- If Barcelona win or the game ends in a draw, you win the bet.
- If Real Madrid win, you lose your bet.
Handicap 0.75
In this instance, the game starts with a score of 0:0.75 (3/4 goal handicap). The underdog team has a head start of a quarter goal before kick-off.
Borussia Dortmund @1.90 vs Bayer Leverkusen @1.90
You are betting ₦500 on Dortmund to win with a +0.75 Asian handicap. This means Dortmund are the underdogs with a 0.75 goal handicap head start.
- If Dortmund win or draw the game, you win the bet.
- If Leverkusen wins by one goal difference (0-1, 1-2, 2-3), you lose half of your stake (₦250), and the other half (₦250) is refunded.
- You lose your stake if Leverkusen wins the game by two or more goals (0-2, 1-3, 0-3), you lose your stake.
You are betting ₦500 on Leverkusen to win on a -0.75 Asian handicap. To win your bet, you need Leverkusen to win by two or more goals (0-2, 0-3, 1-3).
- If Leverkusen win by one goal (0-1, 1-2, 2-3), you win half of your stake (₦250) and win the other half (₦250 × 1.90). Again, you make a profit.
- If the game ends in a draw or Dortmund win, you lose your stake.
Handicap -1
In this scenario, the match starts with a score of 0:1. The underdog team has a head start of one goal before kick-off (handicap 0:1).
Juventus @1.60 vs Udinese @2.50
You are betting ₦500 on Juventus to win on a -1 Asian handicap.
- To win, you need Juventus to win by two or more goals (2-0, 3-0, 3-1).
- If Juventus win by one goal (1:0, 2:1, 3:2), your stake is refunded.
- If the match ends in a draw or Udinese win, you lose the bet.
You are betting ₦500 on Udinese to win on a +1 Asian handicap.
- To be a winner, you need a Udinese win or a draw result.
- If the match result is a draw or Udinese win, you win the bet.
- Your stake gets refunded if Udinese loses by one goal (1:0, 2:1, 3:2).
- If Juventus win by two or more goals, you lose the bet.
The same scenario applies to an underdog team with a +1 handicap.
Handicap -1.5
The -1.5 Asian handicap is very popular with football punters. The underdog team starts with the advantage of a goal and a half (handicap 1.5) before kick-off. However, this option offers no refunds.
PSG @1.50 vs Brest @3.00
You are betting ₦500 on PSG to win with a -1.5 Asian Handicap.
- To win, you need PSG to win with two or more goals difference. In any other case, you lose the bet.
- If Brest win or if the match results in a draw, you lose your stake.
Let’s suppose you bet ₦500 on Brest +1.5 Asian handicap.
- If Brest does not lose or lose with just a goal difference (1-0, 2-1), you win the bet.
- If PSG win with two or more goals difference, you lose the bet.
Alternative Asian handicap markets
Some sportsbooks offer “Alternative Asian Handicap” markets, which are essentially the same as described above but with bigger handicaps (-1.75, -2, -2.25, -2.5, -2.75, etc).
However, the mechanics of this market are the same as in the above examples.
Asian Handicaps vs Traditional Betting
There are a few reasons why Asian handicap betting can be better than traditional betting:
- It eliminates the draw. This is the biggest advantage of all. No more wasted bets on games that end in a tie.
- It can offer better odds. If you think the underdog can keep the game close, you can get better odds by betting on them with an Asian handicap.
Is Asian Handicap right for me?
When to use Asian Handicap depends on the betting strategy you want to use. If you are looking to increase your chances of winning, Asian Handicap is a good choice because it eliminates the possibility of a draw. This means you have a better chance of winning than other types of handicaps.
However, if you are looking for a bigger payout, other types of handicaps, such as European Handicaps, may be a better choice.
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We’ve reviewed every top legal sportsbook in Nigeria that offers this market, and you can find them on our website. Our comprehensive reviews cover every detail to help you make informed decisions. Plus, our sportsbook comparison tool helps you find the perfect fit for your preferences. And with a simple click on the links on our website, you can easily register with your favourite sportsbook!
Conclusion
In essence, Asian Handicaps present a distinctive method in football betting, effectively removing draws and subsequently improving your likelihood of winning. This unique feature makes Asian Handicaps particularly beneficial, especially for newcomers seeking to boost their success in football betting.
Now you’re up to speed with Asian Handicaps, do explore our comprehensive betting guides for further insights into sports and football betting. Happy betting!